MediaReleases

Media Releases

Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference 2015

Singapore, 19 November 2014- Sphere Conferences, the conference arm of Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH), signed an exclusive memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Department of Civil Aviation Myanmar and announced that the 2nd annual Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference (MCADC) will take place from 23to 26 March 2015 in Yangon. This is Myanmar’s only aviation conference which is hosted by the Department of Civil Aviation, Myanmar and supported by Ministry of Transport, Myanmar.

MCADC is the dedicated platform for discussions and debates on the opportunities and growth plans for Myanmar’s aviation industry. The first ever MCADC welcomed almost 450 attendees when the event took place in Sule Shangri-La, Yangon in March 2014. Following on from this year’s highly successful gathering of airport operators, regulators, senior airlines executives and key aviation stakeholders, next year will continue to be the biggest and best aviation conference in Myanmar to date.

U Win Swe Tun, Director General, Department of Civil Aviation, Myanmar, said: “MCADC is a must-attend event for all aviation based companies that are interested to learn about the opportunities and potential of the Myanmar’s aviation market. With the goal of becoming Southeast Asia’s major logistics aviation hub, Myanmar is moving forward to liberalise regulation of the aviation sector, increase local airlines’ competitiveness as well as connect Myanmar directly with more countries outside of Southeast Asia. We look forward to another great event for key industry players to create new partnerships and exchange insights that will shape the future of Myanmar’s aviation industry.”

Mr Chua Wee Phong, Chairman, Sphere Conferences, said: “2015 is going to be a significant year for Myanmar’s aviation industry. The ASEAN single aviation market (ASAM) will be implemented alongside the establishment of the ASEAN economic community in 2015, boosting the region’s air transport sector, and ultimately augmenting Myanmar’s already fast growing tourism sector. Sphere Conferences, together with the Ministry of Transport and the Department of Civil Aviation, is proud to be facilitating these important discussions through MCADC 2015, for the ASEAN aviation leaders.”

Pioneer Aerodrome Services, the airport operator for Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw airports of Myanmar, was selected for the upgrade of Yangon International Airport.

Mr Sulaiman Zainul Abidin, Chief Operating Officer of Pioneer Aerodrome Service, said: “With the urgent need to cope with the expected influx of visitors over the coming years, Myanmar has made conscious efforts to expand airport capacity and upgrade current infrastructure such as the development project at Yangon International Airport, which continues to receive the lion’s share of foreign tourists. Myanmar’s third international airport, Nay Pyi Taw International Airport, has seen increasing number of foreign arrivals since last year. MCADC 2015 will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase Nay Pyi Taw International Airport through the full day site tour.”

As part of the strategies for Myanmar to grow as an aviation hub, Myanmar Airways International (MAI) has established new air links to international destinations.

U Si Thu, Managing Director, MAI, said: “It is important to recognise that after Myanmar opened its door to investors, the demand for business travel has tripled. Expanding the routes to international destinations will propel regional connectivity as well as meeting the demand for more air travel. MAI is committed in its initiative towards enhancing air connectivity and connect Myanmar to the world. I am confident that MCADC 2015 will continue to offer opportunities not only for MAI, but also for all our airlines and aviation industry to enhance our global alliances and cooperation with international stakeholders.”

Sphere Conferences, a conference arm of Singapore Press Holdings, produces conferences that are of the highest quality bringing inspiration, innovation and value to customers. Sphere’s purpose is to empower customers with big and fresh ideas and lasting relationships that will enable them to excel in their chosen markets, by providing unique networking and learning platforms whereby they can learn, network and do business. For more information, please visit www.sphereconferences.com

Newspapers, Magazines and Book Publishing SPH has 19 titles licensed under the Newspaper Printing and Presses Act, of which nine are daily newspapers across four languages. On an average day, 2.8 million individuals or 69 per cent of people above 15 years old, read one of SPH's news publications. SPH also publishes and produces more than 100 magazine titles in Singapore and the region, covering a broad range of interests from lifestyle to information technology. SPH's subsidiaries, Straits Times Press and Focus Publishing, produce quality books and periodicals in English and Chinese.

Internet and MobileBeyond print, SPH's suite of digital products includes online editions of newspapers and magazines, as well as mobile applications. Our online products enjoy 360 million page views with 23 million unique browsers every month. Apart from AsiaOne, SPH’s online and new media initiatives include ST701, the leading online marketplace for jobs (STJobs), property (STProperty), cars (STCars) and general classifieds (STClassifieds); Stomp, omy.sgand SPH Razor.Besides print, SPH newspapers are also available on online, smartphone and tablet platforms.BroadcastingIn the radio business, SPH Radio Pte Ltd operates entertainment stations UFM 100.3 in Mandarin, as well as Kiss92 and HOT FM91.3 in English. SPH has a 20 per cent stake in MediaCorp TV Holdings Pte Ltd, which operates free-to-air channels 5, 8 and U, and a 40 per cent stake in MediaCorp Press Limited, which publishes the free newspaper, Today.

Events and Out-of-Home AdvertisingSPH’s events arm Sphere Exhibits organises innovative consumer and trade events and exhibitions as well as large scale conferences in Singapore and the region. In addition, SPH has ventured into out-of-home (OOH) advertising through its digital out-of-home platform SPHMBO.

PropertiesSPH REIT is a Singapore-based REIT established principally to invest, directly or indirectly, in a portfolio of income-producing real estate which is used primarily for retail purposes in Asia-Pacific, as well as real estate-related assets. SPH REIT is managed by SPH REIT Management Pte. Ltd., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings Limited.

The initial portfolio of SPH REIT comprises the following two high quality and well located commercial properties in Singapore:

· Paragon, a premier upscale retail mall and medical suite/office property, well known for its upscale mall housing many luxury brands, located in the heart of Orchard Road; and· The Clementi Mall, a mid-market suburban mall located in the centre of Clementi town, an established residential estate in the west of Singapore.

The Seletar Mall is SPH's latest retail development and is expected to open at the end of 2014. This property is a potential asset to be injected into SPH REIT. SPH’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Times Development Pte Ltd, also developed a 43-storey upmarket residential condominium, Sky@eleven, at Thomson Road.